In September 2014 two new schools opened in North Kensington. Kensington Aldridge Academy is a secondary school in a brand new building on Silchester Road at the far western end of Lancaster Road. The second school to open was the privately run Chepstow House School, which is located at the other end of Lancaster Road near Portobello Road in a building that has been in educational use since Victorian times. Since many schools have come and gone along Lancaster Road we thought we would recall them.

Portobello Road School by Sue Snyder

Old entrance to Portobello Road School – infants and girls. Photo taken in 1995

Isaac Newton Centre 2010. Originally the boys’ entrance for Portobello Road School, and now Chepstow House, a private school.

One of the first board schools to be built in 1876 in North Kensington was Portobello Road School (now Chepstow House school). The building runs behind the houses on Lancaster Road towards Portobello Road with entrances on both roads. The best view of the two-storey building is probably from the train as it leaves Ladbroke Grove going towards Westbourne Park station.

My mother, Mary Horwood, born in 1913, attended Portobello Road School from the age of 5. It catered for children up to the age of thirteen, although my mother succeeded in transferring at aged 11 to North Kensington Central School on St Mark’s Road opposite Kensington Memorial Park (see separate posting). The entrance on Portobello Road was for infants and girls while the boys entered on Lancaster Road. She described to me how there was an upstairs flat over one of the entrances that was used for training the girls in ‘household” skills such as polishing the fireplace brass and black leading a stove.

After WW2, North Kensington Central School moved from St Mark’s Road to the Portobello Road School building.

I started at Lancaster Road School in September 1939 when I was four and a half years old. The infants were based on the ground floor with the junior boys and girls on the first floor and the senior boys on the second floor. The senior boys’ playground was on the roof and the infants’ entrance was in St.Mark’s Road. The senior girls went to St Quintin’s School in St Mark’s Road near to Kensington Memorial Park.

Each morning, assembly was held in the hall which was also used for dancing and singing. I remember that my first teacher was called Miss Doncaster and our lessons were simple, just learning to read, write and count. We used a slate tile and chalk. There was no paper or pencils. We had small wooden boxes to store our things and these were kept under our chairs. As war progressed, teachers were in short supply so sometimes we only went to school for half a day.

The Junior lessons were more serious. We had proper writing desks with lids that lifted up so there was space to store our books, paper, pens and pencils These desks had to be kept tidy and we opened the lids every morning for the teacher’s inspection. In my third year I became ink monitor which meant keeping all the inkwells in my class filled. In those days pupils stayed in their classrooms for all lessons while the teachers went from class to class.

When I was at school there were three schools in Lancaster Road. One being North Kensington Central School, which became Isaac Newton Secondary School (and is now coming to the end of its recent incarnation as Isaac Newton Professional Development Centre). It had an entrance in Lancaster Road and one in Portobello Road (which is now The Garden Cafe). The school was mixed and fairly small.

Further down Lancaster Road and across Ladbroke Grove there was Solomon Wolfson Jewish School, a mixed primary school that sat upon the site now occupied by The Lighthouse. Next door to this school was a secondary school named, appropriately enough, Lancaster Road Secondary School, now occupied by the Virgin Gym. This school was quite big, and from what I remember, boys only. It was also quite rough.

Solomon Wolfson School, 1970. Photo RBKC local studies.

Because my stepfather was Jewish (he came with his family from Russia to escape the pogroms when he was a boy), he sent my sister and me toSolomon Wolfson. Also it was near to where we lived in Lancaster Road. Apart from Maths and English, the curriculum seemed to consist of writing, painting, clay modelling, growing plants and even knitting! Boys as well as girls! We also learnt some Hebrew, and in the winter we could all leave early on Fridays to get back home before it got dark so we could celebrate Shabat (Sabbath).

Next door to the school was a cinema, The Royalty, where one could play around the back, and sometimes even get inside the cinema. On the corner of Ladbroke Grove and Lancaster Road there was the Children’s Library (which is still there), where I discovered more literature than both schools put together!

After Solomon Wolfson I went to North Ken Central School which was a Technical school teaching technical drawing, woodwork, metalwork, art and science. My last year, 1959, took place in Wornington Road, when both buildings became Isaac Newton boys Secondary School. And pupils who wanted to take ‘A’ levels had to transfer to Holland Park School, which had just opened in 1958. Isaac Newton finally closed in the late 1970s. I think my science teacher Mr Carter later became the head of Isaac Newton School.

Next door to the Portobello entrance was a really good pie and mash shop that later became Ceres Wholefoods (and now The Grain Shop).

Solomon Wolfson by Pat Kasmir

Before moving to Lancaster Road we lived in Hammersmith and I went to St.Paul’s primary school on Hammersmith Broadway. Then when we moved to Lancaster Road our parents sent both my brother and me to Solomon Wolfson in Lancaster Road, as it was local. This was in 1947.

Although my brother and I were not Jewish (my step father was) and we were Church of England, we attended the Jewish assembly and learnt some Hebrew and the Old Testament. It was a mixed school and had other faiths attending. A nun would come into the school to take the non-Jewish students for their assembly.

I really enjoyed my time there. I was very happy and made lots of friends. I can remember that we had plays and celebrations on the stage in the school hall, we had prize giving and we were taught the usual primary subjects – Maths, English, Art etc.

We used to go out at lunchtime to a sweet shop around the corner in Ladbroke Grove (could be Winkworths Estate Agency now) using our weekly sweet coupons and 5penny a week pocket money. I would imagine this would only be once a week probably on a Monday payday.

There was also another school next door to Solomon Wolfson, which I remember as Lancaster Road Boys School (where Virgin Gym is now). It was a much more rough school and I remember being really frightened walking back to my house on my own as the boys were really quite threatening.

In later years, I believe it became a girls’ secondary modern called Ladbroke Lower School and eventually amalgamated with Holland Park School in the early eighties.

I was very unhappy when I had to leave and go to Secondary school, which was Mary Boon in Shepherds Bush (which by the way I really enjoyed also)

When I moved onto Secondary school, Mary Boon in Shepherds Bush, one day a week we had Housewifery or Cooking on alternate weeks. For the housewifery we came back to Lancaster Road to the Campden Institute. They had a flat on the top floor where we were taught to change the beds, hoover the floors, do the washing and the ironing. It was good fun and I never forgot these elementary rules.

n.b. Campden Institute (now Notting Hill Prep School, is on Lancaster Road next to the Library). There is more information on the Campden Institute on a separate blog posting.

Solomon Wolfson in the early 1950s, Rachelle Stock

I was there from about 1950-54 from five till nine years old, when we moved to Tottenham.

We lived along the Uxbridge Road, so my journey was from Shepherds Bush train station to Ladbroke Grove station. Few people from the working class Jewish immigrant population had cars, well, few people had cars full stop, hence the train journey. There was a group of us including my older brother accompanied by various adults. The walk from the station along Ladbroke Grove round the corner to Lancaster Road was exciting because we often came across chickens that we could chase. They were wandering around the entrance of the alley just along from the station.

The headmaster at the time was Mr Mendoza (a lovely gentle man) and if I remember rightly my teacher or one of them was Mr Lipchitz, a memorable name…….. a chalk throwing, tall, tweed-jacketed scary man. We had large coal stoves in the classrooms, probably the norm in most schools at that time. The highlight of my days was playing marbles in the drains. I was quite the champion and had a tin full of my winnings….If it had been raining before playtime all the better as the coloured glass sparkled like treasure nestling in the drain cover holes. Not saying much for my early education.

Around this time, 1952, Christie was committing his murders and we used to go round the corner to Rillington Place, probably on the way home accompanied by adults since I can’t think we were let out during lunchtime – to see the police activity, lots of digging going on. Fascinatingly gruesome for small children. The film 10 Rillington Place, with Richard Attenborough at his finest brings it startlingly back.

I had a ‘boyfriend’, the first, called David Rose. Strange how I remember that I can still recall him kissing me and the smell of his breath. ..yuk. The worst part of that early education was the way we learned the days of the week and months of the year with charts for days drawn as oblong boxes running from right to left (the Hebrew way) starting with Saturday ( Saturday yellow, Sunday red) and finishing with Friday. Forever my image of a week will be seen that way. For the year a circle divided into 12 segments, each segment a month again. I can’t think of the year without that image. I find that extremely annoying!

I left the school because we moved away and I took my 11+ elsewhere.

Solomon Wolfson class, 1960s.

Solomon Wolfson class in 1965.

Samuel Wolfson School finally closed in 1981 reflecting the reduced size the jewish community in Notting Hill who were moving on and out of the area.

59 Responses to Memories of Schooldays in Lancaster Road – Part 1

A lovely nostalgic trip down Memory Lane. Thank you so much. I too have happy memories of the children’s section of Ladbroke Grove Library. One had to go downstairs to access it and have written permission from one’s parents if you wanted to borrow books from the adult section upstairs. I repeatedly borrowed “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” which was a big book bound in red fabric. I loved the illustrations which were always very scary.

How wonderful! I too remember tthis so clearly. Going downstairs to the children’s area and going straight to the Biggles books, (and earlier to the Enid Blytons) and being so dissapointed if the shelves for them were empty. Across the road was I think a sweet shop or toy shop or stationers perhaps which kept me glued to the window at Parker pens and Watermens pens which so enthralled me. At 11 I was sent to the school across the way – North Ken Central School I think where a wondrful teacher of french had me unabashed and fluent in my limitatioins before being upgraded to St Clement DAnes Grammar school the following year. There Mr Gush failed me with his more progreesive teaching style whereas Miss ? who taught strictly by rote had me a year or two ahead of my new ckassmates. Dear Mrs french teacher, if you are still with us , thank you so much.Dear Mr Gush – I do remember you with affection behind your cigarette smoke.
Life with access to a downstairs library before television had much to offer.

I also lived in ladbroke grove but in the 1980’s and it’s fascinating to hear your recollection especially as I can relate to some of the places you mention. But I’m a little confused as you mentioned that you went to Mary Boon school for girls. I went to Mary Boon but it was in Olympia on Hammersmith road not in shepherds Bush. Could you throw some light on that? Did it move I’m really curious to find out.

Annie,
Mary Boon was originally in Lime Grove Shepherds Bush attached to the Art School. It did eventually move to Olympia after I left at the moment I do not know the year but it would have been after 1968. I might be able to find out which will be a bit long winded but I will have a go. It was a lovely school originally referred to as a Trade School which meant the students started at thirteen years of age and chose a trade to study cookery,upholstery art etc. In 1952 the intake started at eleven and I was one of the first.
Pat

I started Mary Boon School September 1959-the year that it moved from Lime Grove to Earsby Street in West Kensington just opposite the Olympia building-it was a lovely school and gave me a great start in life- my name was Tina Burnell then

I, too, remember my days at Solomon Wolfson from 1947-1953. My brother and I would walk from Maxilla Gardens past George’s, a confectionary store on St Marks Road, and turn by the bakery onto Lancaster Road to get to school. We were always greeted by Mr. Drake, the caretaker of the school who was hovering in the playground area as students arrived. I have the fondest memories of Mr. Mendoza, even though I was a regular visitor to his office. He had great patience with me. I remember Mrs Drury, who too, had patience, but more importantly she ignited my imagination and motivated me to explore the world through literature. I became a regular visitor to the library on the corner of Lancaster Road and Ladbroke Grove. Those primary/elementary years I recall with great fondness- the school friends, who for the most part are etched in memory at the ages we were at that time. When I left after the 11+ I went to Central Foundation Grammar in the city, at the same time we moved from Maxilla gardens to Highlever Road, leaving behind the memories of Lancaster Road, and the school

Hello Arnold! We lived in Brewster Gardens, and played a little together a bit and I think you came to a birthday party or two. I think our mums were friends. One would probably pass Ellis Turim’s home on our way to visit Do you recall? May be went to the park together where I think we payed a version of cricket with one man per side.
Mrs Levey – do you recall as well?

Hi Stanley,
I remember you well. We did indeed play together. I cannot say I remember Ellis Turim. I tried to locate an old photograph that I have from those days. There is one particular one with our year
( around 1952), on the stage in the auditorium. I was sitting in the front row next to Stanley Lions, and you were in the fourth or fifth row, at the end of the row. For the most part those years were idyllic with nothing but pleasant memories. I also remember Mrs. Levy, Mr. Supperstone, Mr. Busky and others from the faculty.

Yes, my brother is Alan. Both he and I remember your parents very well. They were many times your parents came to visit our house and vice versa. We to lived on Highlever road, I think 169, though not sure. We also remember you too.

Hi, I’ve been doing some family tree research and found an address for Mary sweeting 169 highlever road in 1953. After a few searches one of your comments saying you lived there around that time. Just wondering if you can remember if you knew her and had any information. Thanks

Hi Arnold, You may just remember me. My name at the time I attended Solomon
Wolfson was Ronald Czech, later changed to Collins. I believe I arrived SW in 1945
left in 1952/3. I remember visiting your home in Maxilla Gardens. Your mother if I am
correct was from Ireland
Would be nice to hear from you I have now reached the age of 76 and have retired
to Sri Lanka
Check out google or FB you can find me under Ron E Collins
I was a cameraman working for British Movietonews for many years
Later ran my own film and TV equipment supply company

Dear Ronald,
I remember you. How come you decided to retire to Sri Lanka? For myself, after leaving King Solomon I went on to Cowper Street grammar School near Old Street. Left at 16 after completing my O levels. Went to Israel for 1 year on a youth leadership training course, then returned to England spending two years working in Dror Habonim. At 18 I made Aliyah to Israel joining an Israeli Group –we served 3 years in the Israeli Army, and then joined a Kibbutz in the north of Israel, where I met my wife who was a student at Hebrew University. She had come to the kibbutz on a visit and the rest was history. We got married in Houston, Texas, and then returned to Israel.
Later we left Kibbutz and ended up in Houston in 1966. I enrolled in the University, and got my B.Sc. and a M.Ed. We moved to Nebraska, and I went on to complete my Ph.D. in Educational Psychology 1974.
My professional career was in the field of Jewish Education where I was Head of Jewish Day schools K-12. In 2010 I retired out of Connecticut, and Judy and I moved to Chicago to be with our middle daughter and 3 grandchildren. Our youngest daughter lives in London in Ilford with her husband and 3 children.

So we have 5 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. We did have an elder daughter, but sadly she passed away unexpectedly in 2006. If you wish to communicate further I’ll give you my e-mail address next time. Hope all is well with you.

Thanks for your email Arnold
so pleased you made contact with
me seventy plus years on
Please let me have your email
address when I fill you in about
all those missing years
Best Wishes
Ronald E Collina
I’ve had quite a Life

Hello there Arnold: Are you still there? I just came across this page looking to see if Rhea Wolfson is related to the Solomon Wolfson family – eh voila – students from the school. I was Yvonne Herman, lived on Ladbroke Grove, passed Oxford/Cambridge Gardens, opposite a small church. I remember all the teachers very well. In fact, Mr. Busky sadly collapsed whilst teaching us one day. I ran into Mrs. Walker’s class (i hated her she was a nasty woman to tell her-very dramatic memory) I remember Mr. Lipshitz – strict and unloving man. I liked Mr. Mendoza, however, Mr. Somper took over – very different. I could say somewhat of a snob! I was naughty, always outside the classroom when, as my bad luck would have it, he would walk the halls and always see me. More detention. I remember Jeffrey Fisher in my class, the Valentine twins, Elizabeth Harvery (the only non Jewish girl in my year). Angela Veter (spelling) broke my finger one day, so I had to walk to St. Charles Hospital to have a plaster cast put on it. Ah, sweet memories of childhood. I went on to N.Ken Central – then Holland Park. To cut a long story short, I emigrated to the United States when I was 20 – two months after President Kennedy was assassinated. I have not looked back since – far too many stories to fill the gap here. In any event, I am married to an Int’l Tax Lawyer, living in Los Angeles and have one daughter. Oh, I forgot, my first teacher was Mrs. Levy who used to hit my hand (seems naughty was my middle name) with a bamboo cane that seriously hurt. Corporal punishment worked in our day, shame it’s not around now. Too much PC in the world today! All the best, Evie

I cannot say that I remember you. I did my 11+ exams in 1953, and then went to Central Foundation Grammar School in the city in September 1953. It may well be Alan, my brother, who was 2 years beneath me. I remember David Leader, Stanley Lyons, Gloria Mannering, Malcom Eagles, Philip Stock, Stanley Morris, Ruth Hack.

I lived in Israel for a few years where I met my wife who is from Houston, Texas. I followed her to Houston, where I enrolled in the University. From Houston we went to Lincoln Nebraska where I received my doctorate. We moved a few times, and finally settled down in the Chicago area after I retired in 2010. We had three daughters, and now have 6 grandchildren. We do travel back and forth to England a fair amount because one of our daughter lives in London with her husband and three children.

Let me know if you bio matches the year that I was in. ( I just turned 76), if that helps.

My mother wasnt Jewish but went to Solomon Wolfson and speaks of her time at school with very fond memories. I am in possession of a cookery book that was presented to her on 5/12/1950 for her good work and excellence of character and was signed by the the Head Master Mr Mendoza

Mary Boon School was in Shepherd’s Bush in 1957.
It shared a building with an Art School.
It produced outstanding results with pupils in Cookery, Design, Dressmaking,
Art, Embroidery, Theatre Costume, it was a Technical School.
Many girls went on to work with these skills some of them to the Designer Houses of the day.

Does anyone recall Ladbroke Grove lower and upper school for girls in the 70’s? would love to get in touch with the girls who took English with Miss Lang (hope that’s the correct spelling for her name) she was inspirational.

Hello Ayfer, I don’t recall your name but I went to Ladbroke in the 70’s. My name is Claudette and I am friends with Regina. We have been having reunion recently and maybe you would like to come sometime. I do remember Miss Lang and Miss Webb.

I attended North Kensington Central School from 1950 to 1954 which I always thought was North Kensington Secondary Modern.When did it change names? I always entered the school from the Lancaster Road entrance a short distance from Ladbroke Grove and used the Portobello Road entance at lunch time. I seem to remember a cafe near the entrance and a shop where it was possible to buy a single cigarette. (buy one?….. who me?) Nah. I remember Mr Markham as Headmaster and a teacher Mr Palmer. The folly of youth, I wasted most of my time at school, and regretted it in later life.

I went to North Ken secondary modern from 1946 to 1951. Percy Markham was Headmaster. We kids were all terrified of him.The cane was a regular punishment. I remember a Mr Wilson,sports master belong a good guy,and a Mister Davies,Maths teacher belong a tyrant. Miss Matthews was deputy head.and dealt with the girls. We received a fair education when you think the war had just ended and the country was on its knees, with lots of bomb damage in that area. The School was in a great position .Right on Portobello Rd ,with the market and stalls. I lived in Tavistock Rd ,Number 123. They were great days for us kids. Very tough for our parents. Bob Bremner.

barry cheese! as soon as i saw the name a bell rang in my head! good god it is 70 years ago. a bit advanced to be saying,’how you doing?’ I can’t remember much about those days but would love to hear and share more with you. I was corresponding withArnold but lost the address. Also love to hear from Ellis too and anyone else. stanley lions, Alan Shwartz, Geoffry gitter and some girls – Gloria, Carol Susan Fineman?

I lived at 200 Lancaster Road and went to the infants school there in 1951. I then attended Oxford Gardens Junior school. I remember coming back from shopping on a Saturday and seeing crowds at the top of Rillington Place. The victims bodies had just been discovered.
My sister went to Quentin Park school. Her name was Rosalind Ann Clark. I spent many happy Saturday mornings at the Royalty minors. Does anyone remember going up on the stage on your birthday? I remember an enactment of the boat race being played out. Flash Gordon springs to mind too!!
Mum worked in Crumpton’s the butchers on Ladbroke Grove so we got to watch the Queen go by from an upstairs window after her coronation. I was a regular at the library having discovered W E Johns and Biggles. I can see those steps leading down now!! Do you remember the index cards when you wanted to find a particular book?
I also spent my time singing in the choir of St Helen’s Church. Miss E Betty Roe(MBE) who was my choir mistress still lives in Barlby Road. She is now 86. They were such happy days and its good to read others memories of the times. Take care all. Frank.

Hello, I attended the school on Lancaster Rd. for a very short time. My friend was Marion Burrows. I lived at #76. I had happy times there until Dec.’49 when we left for Canada. I visited London 4 yrs. ago and went to see #76. It was forlorn with eaves troughs (rain gutters) drooping and overgrown bushes bordering the sidewalk. In my head tho’ it was the same as before. I remember the Chippie around the corner where for sixpence I could get a meal, live eels in a barrow and sweet peas in the garden behind our house. I was peeking over the brick wall one day and the gentleman gave me a bunch. 68 years have passed. Sweet memories. Not so sweet-my dad, Basil Eustace Branson was a pilot in the R.A.F. and was killed several days after the war ended when the plane went down over Corsica. I never saw him.
Anne Branson, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Brrrrr. Snow, minus 7 celsius.

My Brother Arnold & I lived in Maxilla Gardens, the next street to Rillington place which we passed on our way to our school Solomon Woolfson in Lancaster Road
My Father had a Saturday job as a barber in Ladbroke Grove and used to cut Christies and Evans hair !!!!!!
I went to Solomon Woolfson from 1949 to 1955,
The names I remember were, Carol Leader, Stuart Soloway, Howard Eden who I have seen recently,
I still see a lot of Phillip Zekanofsky( Zec) and occassionaly Stuart Phillips
I remember playing Haman in the Purim school play one year, unfortunately I do not have any photo’s of my time at Solomon Woolfson, would love to see some !!
Geoffrey Isaacs and his mother who lived opposite the school were very good friends of our family
and I still see them, they have attended all our family functions these last 60 years ?
Also Grahame Caine and his parents were good friends ,
Other pupils are Stanley Lyons and Andre Douek who now both happen to be members of my golf club, who I see on a regular basis, We often talk about our time at Solomon Woolfson
Would love to hear from my childhood school friends ?
Best Alan Carmel

Hello Alan, I too went to Solomon Wolfson 1949-1955. My maiden name was Sandra Krakowski and I lived at 125 Ladbroke Grove. The names I remember were Briony Angel, Rosalind Levine, Natalie Stern, Hannah ? , Geoffrey Gitter, Stuart and Stanley, Ronald? My cousins lived in Maxilla Gardens and were Shirley, Myrna and Lynda Summercorn. I moved to Barlby Road in 1952. I was very happy at SW, the teachers were lovely. I managed to pass my 11plus and went to Fulham County School for Girls before moving to Essex in 1957. My Dad was Jewish but not my Mum.

Hi Sandra
Unfortunately I don’t remember you ?
But I do remember the summercorns !
I think I was friends with them
I also was very happy at SW,
Do you have any school photo’s, ??
For some unknown reason I cannot find any !
I am still friendly with Phillip Zecanofsky and see Stuart Phillips riding around Borehamwood
Best wishes
Alan

Hi there: I was Yvonne Herman, lived at 247 Ladbroke Grove. Remember all the teachers however, do not recognize your name? I was in class with the Valentine twins, Bernice Bearston, Jeffrey Fisher, Stuart Solomon. Went to Shul behind Portobellow Road! Wont go on unless I hear back. Best Evie

Hi Alan – you remember the Summercorns, well Lynda, the youngest, lives in Dorset, Myrna in Retford. Shirley’s not well unfortunately. I remember your name but not your face! I have a photo of my 11th birthday party with those girls I mentioned in my last message. I’ll look it out later and attempt to attach it. It may jog your memory. Do you remember Mr Busky? What a kind, inspirational teacher! I think we were very lucky to go to that school. Best wishes, Sandra. Devon

Hi Sandra, Do you remember Carol Leader ? Stuart Soloway, I do remember visiting a house in Ladbroke grove, near the top of a hill ?Did you go to the Shul in Portabello road, I used to sing the solo at Chanuka, I remember Mr Shinefeld,, Mr Mendoza and Mrs Walker, Would love to see the photo ?
Regards Alan

Hi Alan, I don’t remember Carol Leader but I remember a Stuart. 125 Ladbroke Grove was just a very short walk round the corner from SW and opposite The Elgin Pub, still there today. I didn’t go to Shul much, apart from the Saturday mornings at the school where you used to get a watered down red wine and biscuits afterwards! Mr Shinefeld changed his name to Shenfield as I remember. I’ve found the photo – now I have to find out how to insert it on this website? Regards Sandra

Hi Alan,
I have been in contact with your brother Arnold great to find him
after all these years I was also an ex pupil of Solomon Wolfson
Can you please;ford your brothers email address
Have so much information to convey after an absence of more
than seventy years

Hi, my mum came from Lancaster Road. Her name is Susan Squires (nee Arney) and from what Mum has said her house is no longer there, but I think she has said that it was opposite the round house. My grandad Fred Arney had a fruit and veg business (family run). It would be great if anyone can remember her or her family, so as I can maybe put her in touch with old school friends, and/ or family who may still live in the area. I’ve heard her talk about Rillington Place and how near to her school it was ( not sure of the name of the school she attended). I love hearing about her time growing up in London before they moved down to Kent.

Hello there: Did you have a brother that ended up working at The American Express Co. in The Haymarket? I remember your name – I think – its not an uncommon name. My name is Yvonne my maiden name Herman.

Yes Margaret, Ruth is my aunt, and yes they had horses, some of the info I got wrong, after speaking to my mum, they had a meat business, not fruit and veg, my grandad started that when they moved to Kent, their house was in Lancaster Road, I do have a picture, but don’t know how to up load it on to this page, , mum said it was the first house that had pillars at the front.

I have enjoyed reading your reminiscences even though I followed on a lot later 57-64. Some of you may remember my brother and sister (Silverstone) I certainly remember the name Alan Carmel.
I really liked Mr. Somper and Miss Levene of course but Mr Shenfield tried to make me eat peas so I didnt like him. I loved my time at SWJS and was sad to leave.

Does anybody remember an ex-pupil called Joolia Cappleman? She was a friend of mine and died unexpectedly very recently and it took me some time to find a relative. I know from her Facebook page that she went to Solomon Wolfson. She was an actress living in London – and maybe Cappleman was her stage name – if it was, then I probably won’t be able to take this any further.

Roni,
Can you give us an idea of when Joolia would have been at Solomon Wolfson? How old was she when she died recently or when she was born. Then I can alert certain people who might be the same age.
Sue from northkenstories